Love this club

Australia focused solely on Iraq says skipper Neill

Lucas Neill insists the Australian team are not getting ahead of themselves in regards to World Cup qualification.

Neill and his Socceroos teammates are preparing for Tuesday's vital clash with lowly Iraq in Sydney with a win to see them into the finals in Brazil next year.

The former Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United captain is well aware of the magnitude of the fixture and has made it clear that the entire squad is focused on this game before they even think about heading to Brazil this time in 2014.

"We can book our own ticket but we know Iraq is one of our bogey teams...so our feet are firmly on the ground, there's going to be five solid days of preparation now," Neill said.

"There's a quiet confidence in camp but there's also a steely focus.

"In a year from now, they (the younger generation) will be better players going into, hopefully, their first World Cup...and we'll worry about the teams in Brazil once we get there.

About the author

Andrew Slevison is an avid sports fan, particularly of the world game. The Melbourne, Australia native, who has spent time living in London and travelling South America, takes a keen interest in the English Premier League and Major League Soccer and rates his best live footballing moment as the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.